Spring officially starts here on the 1st September and the place is blooming. I’ve got a few cycling trips organized by my touring club in the next few months and have booked airfares to Adelaide for a month in May next year. Annoyingly for the second time this year my MTB has developed a hairline … Continue reading "Spring into action to work."
Hello from the depths of winter. It’s cold but nothing like most of you experience. The maximums are around 15-20 degrees Celcius with the mornings around 0-10 degrees Celcius. In fact its my favourite season for bike riding. Many Canadians reckon that winter is the toughest they experience in Australia as no homes have central … Continue reading "Winter cycling"
Hi Cycle 365ers, I’m still alive and cycling like crazy. It’s now Sunday morning, the first day of 2023 and it seems very much like last year so far. Last night my club went for a night cycle with a picnic in Kings Park then a ride around the Christmas lights in the city. It … Continue reading "My last ride of 2022"
Well’ I’m pretty confidant that my Christmas was the hottest, definitely no snow was predicted. I got up at first light, drove the car to Guildford (5am start) then rode to the beach. I got back to the car at 10.40am before it got unbearably hot. I’ve created some videos of my ride below. A … Continue reading "A Bicycling Christmas Day Evading Furious Grotesque Heat."
OK, I shamelessly copied and pasted Greg’s last post title with a few alterations but doing something as easy as you can appeals to me. I rode my bike up to Kalamunda’s Sunday Growers Market yesterday hoping to get some fresh Blue Mana Crabbs but they’re not in season so I ended up going into … Continue reading "“Cyclist’s Favourite Treats, And Where To Find Them In Lednar’s Town”"
Some time ago, Greg talked about the lengths he and The Feeshko went to in order to get a good pasty on their trip back home. I asked Greg what made the perfect pasty. His description sounded a lot like the pasties in Oz (it turns out those Cornish miners went all over the world … Continue reading "The collection that wasn’t"
Last weekend, after I got back from Nigel’s house after the overnight ride up his way, I noticed something very empty. My handlebar bag was devoid of its normal occupants. I’d left Verne and Kermit behind at Nigel’s place! Don’t despair. I am sure they are lapping up beer and potato chips and television, since … Continue reading "Most definitely an empty road"
The empty challenge seems simple enough. And maybe it is, if you are taking pictures of objects that contain something. But a lot of things that are empty are actually full of something else. The landscape could be empty of people, but full of trees. The farmer’s dam could be empty of water, but full … Continue reading "An existential crisis"
Australia is a perfect place to find examples of adaptive radiation. Find yourself a kangaroo or a wombat or a koala or any other marsupial… and there you go, adaptive radiation. Alas, at this time of year, in the areas near my home, I don’t see many marsupials. Many of them nocturnal, which is one … Continue reading "In search of marsupials"
I have some catching up to do – you have all been very busy riding and writing. I noticed one challenge is radiation – or something similar. Well, I did make reference to ‘radiant’ in my most recent post so I will link to it HERE. The thing is that we have days following an … Continue reading "A bit of Radiant Heat wouldn’t go amiss"
Yeah, the challenge of the month is blue, but July in my part of Australia is all about green. It is in that very short period of time in the year when the landscape is well-watered. So we got out and enjoyed all that green on Saturday with several new roads, a fair bit of … Continue reading "Bein’ Green"
We got good rain over the weekend which made the gravel roads very fast to ride today. I made good on a promise to take the guys up to Reedy Creek for a float. You can check out all the float action and the seasonal change in Reedy Creek here: https://rambleoutyonder.org/2020/07/13/shifting-july-ride-2-untethered/
It’s mid-winter here and we are having a foggy, frosty damp time of it. It feels like my brain has shut down and I have gone into a state of torpor. The above picture is from a wintery Melbourne some years ago. Found it when looking at pictures taken in June over the past few … Continue reading "Not doing too much"
I’ve come to the end of my “Travels on a Bicycle” archive of photographs. I’ll finish with some of my favourite photographs. Not all taken while on a bike ride, but all related to cycling. Malaysia I really like the composition of this one. The shot was taken by a photographer for Cycling Malaysia magazine … Continue reading "Virtual Tour 45: That’s a Wrap"
This is winter – fog season – riding in my part of Oz. I dash out the door as soon as work ends and get in a short ride as the sun sets. Sunset is around 5.07pm. On the day of the feature pic, it had been drizzly mixed with showers all day. The clouds … Continue reading "Fog season riding in Oz"
I don’t have many old pictures related to cycling, so this month’s challenge is, well, a challenge. I do, however, have some recent before and after pictures from nearby. Taken on bike rides but not showing bikes so not really an entry. The above is my shortest “standard” ride. It’s 15 kilometres that can be … Continue reading "Old, damaged and then GONE"
I am a bit late posting this, but I did participate in the Ride of Silence on the southern hemisphere date of 23 May. I had planned to take flowers to the site but didn’t plan ahead enough to make it happen. The local florist is still only doing phone orders and deliveries, so I … Continue reading "Ride of Silence – Milawa, VIC"
I have done a number of rides in Melbourne. These are some of the sights from those rides. The Melbourne City Baths first opened in 1860, with swimming pools and bathing facilities. It continues to provide health and fitness services to the community. It has the largest swimming pool in the Central Business District, as … Continue reading "Virtual Tour 4: Melbourne"
Yearning to be able to return to Swansea on Tasmania’s east coast. However, it was my birthday and I was on a ride. Towards the end I realised I could make it a ‘ride your age in kilometers’ ride. The story is HERE.
There’s the golf ball. No recent cases of covid-19 in Northern Tasmania. In the north-west it is another story with a large cluster focussed on the North-West Hospital and a patient returning from the Ruby Princess Plague Ship. This is a ride I put together for the Melbourne Brompton Club’s blog. Hi Dayna,In these isolated … Continue reading "Still here, still riding"
Still able to get out and cycle in this State, I cycled a short loop out of Longford and on the way back headed to the shops. Click Here for the story. Stay well everyone.
More of the same I am afraid. A little trip around Longford and a visit to the shop. This time the local Bottlo to purchase the weekend supply of IPA. How are you all going in this time of restrictions? We are knocking over home type tasks that have been wanting for some time. Cleaned … Continue reading "CLC #4. Longford, TAS"
It’s Autumn. Sometimes summer hangs on well into autumn. This year it loosened it’s grip on day 1 so the cold and COVID-19 eases its way in. Tasmania has closed it’s borders to anyone not Tasmanian. Today a friend from Hobart is attempting to fly back from Hanoi. He has cut his cycling tour from … Continue reading "Cycle Life Challenge #2 : Longford"
For my CLC Ride #1 I decided to take a trip to Launceston and buy a Trangia Triangle. What is it? A mini support and windshield for a Trangia stove burner. They do exist and here is a picture of one from the Interweb. I tried to find one and failed, so I bought something … Continue reading "CLC 2020. Ride #1. Launceston"
At last – the picture I have been looking for. Almost. The image above includes cycle plus sheep. You can’t really see though so here is the sheep in shadow. The front one thinks she is in the shade, or just enjoys snuggling with a wheel. The other one really is in the shade of … Continue reading "Sheep in Shadow – again"
Today there were plenty of sheep but none in shadow. Although the sun was getting up there, the cool wind from the east was keeping the sheep in the field. When it gets hot they often seek shade in the shadows thrown by the pivot wheels (sometimes even the shadow from the main bar!) – … Continue reading "Hunting Sheep in Shadows"
I have been pushing the ever-decreasing “Little Grey Cells” to set a challenge for myself. I set out this morning on a short, slow ride around Longford deliberately looking for inspiration. Then, AHA!. While out cycling we often see sheep sitting or standing or fighting for space in the shadows – to get out of … Continue reading "Sheep in the Shadows"
My challenge to self for 2019 was to cycle 6,000 kilometers in the year. “Ride with GPS” kept my totals with a difference between two of the 2019 counters. I could not work out why this was so. By yesterday I was still short by one of the measures but a ride this morning on … Continue reading "2019 Challenge – Success at last !!"
I tried to get a summer picture at the same place – but couldn’t see the sun! So I have to stand further back. Brompton is in there standing against the house. Thank you all for your recent comments. Our area has no fires at the moment but friends both here is Tasmania and on … Continue reading "Solstice in Tasmania"
Hi there, I haven’t posted for a while. The last 2 months have been awful with weather patterns being driven by unusual sea temps in the Southern and Indian Oceans causing winds normally south of us to be lifted to Tasmania. The winds have been strong. Cycling has been difficult. I have my annual challenge … Continue reading "The wind has dropped !!"
Hi cycle touring people, I’m Joshua and I like downhill mountain biking and my favourite mountain biker is Sam Pilgrim, he does slopestyle, gravity enduro, Audi nine’s and many other famous MTB events. As much as I like Tom Cardy, Blake Samson and Matt jones, Sam is lit and has got to be my favourite. … Continue reading "The ‘Kid’ does his first post."
Flags have been very hard to find in the areas I ride. Aussies don’t tend to fly flags in their yards much and I haven’t been by businesses in business hours to get any business-related flags. The only Aussie flag I have found sits outside a house that has an old caravan and many old … Continue reading "Rhymes with Flag"
Not terribly picturesque but the picture does show flags. I am trying “Pray Flags” on the trike but they are not getting much response. Except – “I didn’t see them!”. So I suspect you won’t see them either and will concentrate on the subject – the flag at half-mast. The green fence surrounds the Longford … Continue reading "Local flag at half-mast"
This picture was a day early because I won’t be at home this evening. Yes, the driveway is pretty much oriented east / west. The Winter Solstice picture. From now the sun will “walk” south (left) for the next 3 months and we should enjoy some warm weather. This week there has been a run … Continue reading "Equinox in Tasmania"
Colin took this picture during Sunday’s Launceston (TAS) Tweed Ride. The riders are on top of the Levee that protects Launceston from flooding. The surface up there is bumpy with large gravel. Bluey took the bumps better than Red Magnum so Colin took a more comfortable detour and waited for us to return. There is … Continue reading "A Line of Cyclists"
I have just drunk my Sunday morning coffee having dressed in Tweed for today’s Launceston Junction Art Festival’s Tweed Ride. While quenching thirst I caught up with the “In Line” entries. So many and so good but I hadn’t time to comment on each – so here is another! The picture is of a row … Continue reading "Trees in Line"
Pivots are irrigation devices that pivot around a huge lump of concrete. They can be many units long and the wonders of electric motors and GPS keep them in line while performing a 360° circle issuing water to the crops. Friends who have flown to Hobart in summer say the countryside has been transformed by … Continue reading "A Pivot Line"
Well in a few hours it’ll be spring here (1st Sept). So here’s my mixed challenge entry ‘Spring back in line’ with Lemon Scented Gum trees at Kings Park near the city, each one has a plaque for fallen soldiers in front of it.
I cycled past this Blue Gum then turned and went back. The Blue Gum flowers are a critical food source for the endangered Swift Parrot. The Swift Parrots come across to Tasmania (from mainland Australia) in Spring to breed and, on arrival, have to seek the flowering trees. Blue Gums don’t flower every year – … Continue reading "Blue Gum. Eucalyptus Globulus"
I logged in this morning to see how the monthly challenge is going. Well, it took ages to read everyone’s posts; Subject: Trees. A very popular challenge it seems and a very interesting one. Today I add another Eucalyptus …… sorry, not sure of type. When I cycle out of Longford, this road is one … Continue reading "A Simple Gum Tree"
The weather stayed fine for an extra day. After this it’s back to cold and wet and I am scheduled for a needle to relieve (I hope) a part-frozen shoulder. This will stop riding for a couple of days. So, on a sunny but cold yesterday, I went for a ride to Bracknell. In the … Continue reading "Another acacia – the Blackwood"
Native to California and Oregon, one found it’s way to Longford, Tasmania. I cycle past this one any day I ride the Brompton to the shops – a couple of times a week to get papers and milk for Latte making. It’s looking it’s best at the moment. Also known as Silktassle Bush, you can … Continue reading "This one is a Garrya Elliptica"
I left work early and charged up the hill to get a photo of the winter equinox sunset. Also I got two photo entries in the new and old challenge. The first shows my sons new red mountain bike which I had commandeered for a ride that day with some old railway switch points and … Continue reading "Winter solstice downunder and New and Old Challenge"
I had to visit Launceston, Tasmania (not the English town of the same name) today and the thought was with me – “Bricks” and the Cycle 365 challenge for May.
While at Silverton near Broken Hill, NSW we came upon an artist’s studio – and he has a thing for decorating with bicycles. I like this diorama! Now we are back home I will tackle bricks.
Hi Everyone. I haven’t been in contact recently because I have been riding the trike from Melbourne to Adelaide. I had hoped to keep up with Kathleen’s challenge and post a bit about the ride but it was all too hard just using a ‘phone !
Yep. 500+ kilometers in February even though it only has 28 days and on the last 2 days I can’t cycle – involved in showing family members the delights of Tasmania. More details can be found here – TC Blog
Last weekend had perfect weather, so the guys and I got out for the first time in six weeks. We had a grand time. The ride had all the things we love – geology, great scenery, low-no traffic roads, an empty campsite and great riding conditions. More than once we thought about just not going … Continue reading "The Devonian Ride"
My challenge to self is to ride between Melbourne and Adelaide mainly camping along the way. Ride with GPS says it’s a bit over 1,000 kilometers with quite a few thousand meters to climb along the way. I expect the figures to be wrong as generally I find the longer the planned route the less … Continue reading "My Challenge (to self) of 2019"
It’s been a busy month down here in Tasmania for me, which means I haven’t clocked up quite as many kilometres as I would have liked. It’s all good though as I plan on being much more relaxed about my cycling in 2019. No chasing distances or Strava segments or anything like that. I’m simply … Continue reading "January Challenge – The smoke clears"
After an almost cloudless week and stinking hot temperatures some clouds rolled in and the temperature plummeted…AAAhhhhh. This photo was taken outside our new hospital with my bike, public art work and some nice stratocumulus clouds, then some rain later. click here for my previous days ride with a link to my week long cycle … Continue reading "Monthly challenge. A bike and some clouds"
I rode to Deloraine for an overnight camp. This sky looked great. The first day was very windy, the second day OK. The overall average speed was very slow. The story of the ride can be found here.
It’s been cloudy or I’ve been asleep or I just plain missed it – but yesterday I managed a sunset picture. Our driveway heads somewhat east / west so I took the shot there. I will probably have to walk a bit further along to get the winter solstice picture!
There were some walls of hay, a sunrise, a floatie session and a lot of brown vegetation in our final three rides of the year. The high temperature yesterday was 43C, and we are heading toward that again today and tomorrow. So the guys and I are just hanging out and relaxing. No more riding … Continue reading "The final 3 rides of 2018"
Well my brain cells are in overdrive trying to go so far back into the fog of history. My first cycle must have been to my local school and back just down the road about 50 years ago, way before the time of digital cameras or even polaroid cameras. I can remember my first crash … Continue reading "First Bike Ride"
My 2018 challenge is to ride 100 k each week. This changed to 5,200 k in the year (average 100k) after some weeks not making the 100. 2 weeks and 161 k to go. To help the totals along this week I “did” an S24O ride. Notes can be found HERE. This coming week I … Continue reading "Shhhhh …. My 2018 Challenge is going well"
“We can’t stop here, this is bat country!” – Hunter S. Thompson All the Coffeeneuring and Vinouring posts on here got me thinking. I’m not much of a wine drinker, but I do love a good whisky or dark rum every now and then. So I had an idea … … Could Whiskyneuring be a thing? … Continue reading "Whiskyneuring – Could it be a thing?"
Windy weather and a head cold scratched our plans for a rubbish collection ride on the weekend. So it will be a couple more weeks before I fulfill the Thanksgiving Challenge – though really, it’s a challenge that can be done any time of year anyway! The guys and I did get out for a … Continue reading "Postponing our Thanks"
Last Sunday I headed north to take on the 100km Sally’s Ride. Tony also rode (the 45km route) on his ‘bent and you can read his post here. All the proceeds from this Charity Ride go to much deserving local charities. Many of the State’s strongest riders turn up to hammer the metric century route … Continue reading "THANKSGIVING CHALLENGE: SALLY’S RIDE (100KM)"
Today I cycled the 45k ride in Sally’s Ride, Launceston, Tasmania. The profits from the ride all go to local charities – so I reckoned it fitted under the banner of community service even if not directly.
Coffeeneuring Ride Number 6 took place on a lovely 23°C day, no wind until on the way back and a chance meeting with friends on the way. Read all about it HERE
The day for Coffeeneuring dawned very windy, stormy and without power due to electrical cells in the storms. Only a short ride then. But where? Ah, there’s a new Bakehouse in Perth and a new bit of track at the end of the the Breadalbane to Perth shared track to try, so starting at Devon … Continue reading "Tasmanian Coffeeneuring #4. The Country Bakehouse, Perth"
The very gentle approach to energy use continues. We rode a grand total of 51 kms over two days last weekend. There are some pictures from a short gentle ride we did on Monday in the national park at the end of my latest website post here.
I am always learning. I always thought the Equinox were on the 21st of the March and September and was wondering why the 23rd. So I Googled and saw that the Spring (Australia) Equinox was the same as the US Autumn one – the 23rd. So I missed out on relevant pictures as I … Continue reading "Let’s sneak another sign in"
G’day there cycle buddies! I’ve been away from the site for a little while due to this and that. Mostly because the guy a couple of doors down dug a trench straight through our broadband internet cable, grrr! I’ve been reading a few posts, but haven’t been able to comment or write one of my … Continue reading "September Challenge: Watch out for wildlife!"
The guys and I managed a ride last Saturday on the first day that felt like spring. It wasn’t far or fast, but it was a ride. The flies and magpies were absent, so we enjoyed the time without the annoyances that come as spring progresses. Read more here: https://rambleoutyonder.org/2018/09/01/plan-b-august-ride-2-kooringal-and-canola/
Another liquid river entry in the August challenge. This time it is the Ovens River. I tried to tackle the track but it got worse and Brompton complained.
I’ve finally written up a ride from a couple weekends ago. It was a short ride in grey and misty conditions followed by a long bushwalk the next day in sunny, windy warm temps. The guys got in three floatie sessions over the weekend and I got in multiple hot tub sessions. ‘Twas a great … Continue reading "The Malakoff ride"
After feeling a bit better in May and June, I felt incredibly crappy for two weeks in July. It was terribly frustrating to not have enough energy to ride when we had many, many good and rideable days (not normal in our wet season). In the midst of it, though, Tony from Tasmania stopped by … Continue reading "Or NOT And – A two-day winter ride"
Saturday morning I set out with a solo 100km in mind. That’s about as far as I ever go. I’m no long distance cyclist, preferring to smash out a more intense two or three hours in the saddle. Sometimes though you need to go on a journey and as I had nothing else to do … Continue reading "An accidental imperial century"
We have just begun a 2 month caravan trip on mainland Australia. The first stop was Melbourne and the main tasks there were to get a mountain drive fitted to the Brompton (didn’t trust Tasmanian dealer mechanics) and to ride the Capital City Trail to get some ks in.
Cycling the Capital City Trail in and around Melbourne I came across this old, rusty bicycle thrown in the river. The waterway may be part of the Yarra but I am not sure of the geography. The trail was passing through an interesting area running under the Westgate Bridge, two train tracks, other roads and … Continue reading "How to dispose of an elderly bicycle – Melbourne style"
Featured image: A gloriously chilly winter morning sunrise from the summit of Mount Nelson. With half the year gone already (whaaaaat?!?!) I thought I’d check in on how I’m getting on so far. I don’t really set mileage goals as it’s so variable, but in a previous post somebody asked if I would hit 10,000km for … Continue reading "Half Yearly Progress Check"
We were riding River Road at Deloraine after overnight rain. The colours in the eucalypts really stood out in the sun that had just appeared. The picture also contains the bike in shadows in the middle at the bottom. The colours did not transfer to pixels too well but you will get the idea.
Did I really have the Ogre with me when I wandered half-naked around Australia in 1984? Or was it all a dream? Or a vision of a future time out of time yet to come? And why isn’t my hair still thick and red? All these questions remain unanswered as the Challenge of the Month … Continue reading "Arboreal Dream of Oz"
Ta…da….Here’s my tree of the month complete with bicycle. What… it isn’t a real tree you say, just metal and stuck in a block of concrete OK….I’ll go riding with the camera, don’t want the CLC disciplinary council after me. For some nice trees and a cute puppy click this
More sunny, dry weather allowed the guys and I to get out for rides on both Sunday and Monday. We are edging closer to 2700 kms for the year – only 600 kms behind where we need to be by the end of June. Oh well…. at least we are really enjoying these rides under … Continue reading "A bit like 2006"
Like Tony’s, the weather in my part of Australia was divine today. We started cold at -2C but made it to 16C. Of course, I was inside working. But I was determined to get in a solstice ride. When I was at university, I rode with a group of mountain bike guys. We rode most … Continue reading "Winter Solstice in New South Wales"
Scott asked for it – so here it is. Today (or maybe tomorrow depending on offical Astronomical reckoning) is the Winter Solstice. The weather has recently returned to being around 0°C overnight and 10-12°C during the day and sunny once the early morning fog goes. So today the sun is out and there is no … Continue reading "Winter Solstice in Tasmania"
How do three Yanks celebrate the Queen’s Birthday public holiday in Australia? Well, we went for a ride, of course. We picked up our remaining unridden tracks in one section of the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park. We also enjoyed the last of the sunny, clear weather for the week. Read more at the link below. … Continue reading "Queen’s Birthday Party"
127 kilometres cycled this week – my personal weekly challenge met. Next week maybe not as a lot of rain is scheduled. To read about it hop over to here : tonyscycling.blog
We needed to go ride. You cannot stay at home when it is sunny and 17C with light winds in June. But we also needed something that would not push my body too hard. So we did a route that was a figure-eight with a spur and an elongated middle. See more pics and the … Continue reading "Loop de Loop – A wander around the Whitfield area"
Back in the day in Tasmania there was a passenger rail service. In 1978 the last trip of the Tasman Limited took place and I believe this is the train that would have stopped at the Perth Railway Station.
After a crap week I had a ride along the Perth to Breadalbane cycle path looking for a suitable tree to use in the Challenge. Previously I had taken bridge pictures but the realised I took them on June 1 so they were now just so yesterday. Why was it a crap week? did I … Continue reading "A young gum tree"
June challenge! What? Is it really June already?!?! Where do the months go… We’ve had some sketchy weather in Hobart of late as we slide into winter. A couple of weeks ago the city experienced the most rainfall in a 24 hour period in something like 60 years. Many homes and businesses were flooded and/or … Continue reading "Sleeping trees"
Well my entry for the bridges competition doesn’t even go over water, it’s a bridge over a railway….boring. It was an important thoroughfare for horses and carriages a hundred years ago. Then devoted to cars Here’s my ride click here Sorry this site is testing my Neo-Luddite tendancies but I’ll get it eventually See ya … Continue reading "Cyclelife May Challenge- Bridges"
More great weather on the weekend, so the guys and I did 890 metres of climbing over two days and 107 kms. We also managed a couple floatie sessions and time spent basking in the sun. Read more about it at the link below. Plan B – May Ride 4 – Extended twilight